Texts

Diana Hacker. The Bedford Handbook, 6th edition.
Deborah Johnson. Computer Ethics, 3rd edition (this is the text for Phil 112: L01)

Online Resources

Bedford Handbook Online <http://www.dianahacker.com/bedhandbook/>
GMU Writing Center

Course Description

Students in this class are also registered for section L01 of Phil 112 and English 209. In English 101, we will work on critical thinking and writing, with several short assignments and exercises, two full-length (5-7 page) essays, an annotated bibliography, and a class presentation. The second essay will be a joint assignment with the English 209 course. Other assignments will draw on material from the Phil 112 course as well as the English 209 material.

English 101 emphasizes the process of writing, not merely the end product. College writing is not a simple step by step process, but a recursive one, involving several drafts and revisions. Revision is the most important part of the writing process, and we will spend a good deal of time on it. Drafts will be required of all essays. The course also introduces critical analysis and research skills.

Course Objectives

English 101 is an Introduction to College Composition. In this course, you will learn how to prepare a draft of a college essay and revise the draft for overall structure, paragraph structure, sentence structure, and grammar. Although this is a Composition course, we also will be concentrating on critical thinking and analytical skills. This course will also introduce you to the basics of college level research, which will be required for your final project and in many of your later courses. In many ways, English 101 is an Introduction to College; the skills you take away from this course will help you in any course which requires writing or critical thinking and analysis.

Description of Assignments

Exercises, drafts, and peer reviews: These will usually be in class assignments (occasionally completed outside of class) designed to work on a particular skill, such as summarizing, revising, or editing.
Exercises: 15%
Drafts and peer reviews: 15%

Essays: The first essay will be based on readings from your Phil 112 class. The essay should be 5 double-spaced pages discussing some aspect of computer ethics in contemporary digital culture. The second essay will be a dual submission project coordinated with your English 209 class; this essay will be placed online. There will be no paper copy of the second essay. The second essay should be approximately 1000-1500 words (equivalent to 5 double-spaced pages).
Ethics essay: 20%
Online Essay: 20%

The final research project will have two parts: an annotated bibliography and a class presentation.
Bibliography: 15%
Final Research Presentation: 15%

Grading Policy

I calculate final grades based on a 100 point scale using the following values:

In English 101, possible final grades are A, A-, B+, B, B-,C, and NC. Individual assignments may receive grades lower than C, but final grades below C will be recorded as NC (No Credit).

Midterm Grades

Students in all 100- and 200-level courses will recieve midterm grades by October 21st. The midterm grades are based on work turned in during the first half of the course. Since this course allows revisions, the midterm grades should be considered estimates.

Revisions

The first two essays may be revised for a higher grade (in English 101; grades in the linked courses are determined by that course's instructor). The final project comes too late to allow for a revision after it has been graded; but we will work on drafts in class, before the project is due. Exercises and peer reviews generally cannot be revised.

In order for a revision to receive a higher grade, it must be substantially revised. You cannot lose a grade by revising, but a higher grade is not guaranteed. I have found that “B” papers (or higher) are very difficult to revise, since serious revision requires thoroughly changing the essay’s structure, and “B” papers usually have a fairly good structure. “C” papers (or lower) are easier to revise, since the major changes they require are often easier to work out. I recommend revising “C” papers or lower only. Generally, the weekly responses cannot be revised (though I might make an occasional exception). Exercises can not usually be revised, although I may make exception for some particularly important exercises.

All revisions must be turned in by November 24

Late Assignments

Unless you make prior arrangements with me, late assignments will lose one letter grade per day. The lost grades cannot be made up by revision.

Plagiarism

"Plagiarism means using the exact words, opinions, or factual information from another source without giving that source credit. Writers give credit through the use of accepted documentation styles, such as parenthetical citation, footnotes, or end notes; a simple listing of books, articles, and websites is not sufficient. Plagiarism is the equivalent of intellectual robbery and cannot be tolerated in an academic setting." (Department of English Plagiarism Statement). I will report any suspected cases of plagiarism to the Honor Committee. See also the GMU Honor Code.

Attendance Policy

I will not take attendance, but it is not possible to do well in this course without regular attendance. In class exercises and discussions make up part of your grade. Class discussions of the texts and methods of analysis are necessary for the essays, and the essay topics will develop from the class discussions. In addition, we will work on revising the drafts in class.

Back to English 101:L01

Course Schedule

Week 1 (Aug 25-27): Writing Process; Planning and drafting
Bedford Chapters 1-3

Week 2 (Sept 3): No class Sept 1. Peer review essay 1 for Phil 112.

Week 3 (Sept 8-10): Critical Thinking
Bedford Part IX (46-48)
Guest Speaker: Rosemary Chase, GMU Copyright Office

Week 4 (Sept 15-17): Paragraphs; Prepare for Peer Review
Bedford Chapter 4

Week 5 (Sept 22-24): Peer review essay 1 (in class Sept 22)
Ethics Essay due Sept 24

Week 6 (Sept 29-Oct 1): Document design, including electronic documents; Evaluation criteria for online sources.
Bedford Chapters 5-7, chapter 50

Friday Oct 3: Smithsonian Information Technology Exhibit. Meet at Vienna Metro at 10:00 a.m.

Week 7 (Oct 6-8): Sentence structure
Web critique (dual submission with Engl 209).
Exploratory draft for Essay 2
Bedford Chapters 8-12

Week 8 (Oct 14-15): Columbus Day recess. Monday classes meet Tuesday.
Sentence Structure
Bedford Chapters 13-15

Week 9 (Oct 20-22): Sentence structure; Word choice; Peer reviews of essay 2 (continued from English 209)
Bedford Part IV (Chapters 16-18)

Week 10 (Oct 27-29): Grammatical Sentences
Bedford Part V (Chapters 19-28)
Essay 2 /English 209 web project due

Week 11 (Nov 3-5): Punctuation and Mechanics
Bedford Part VII (Chapters 32-39); Part VIII (Chapters 40-45)

Week 12 (Nov 10-12): GMU Library databases.
Bedford Part X (Chapters 49-52)

Week 13 (Nov 17-19): Research
Bedford part X (Chapters 53-59)
Annotated Bibliography due Nov 19

Thursday Nov 20: Cinema and Supper (movie and pizza night). 7 pm. Details TBA

Week 14 (Nov 24): Prepare for presentations. Thanksgiving Break, Nov 26-30.

Week 15 (Dec1-3): Final presentations